“Walt Kowalski, a racist Korean War veteran whose prized possession is a classic car that catches the eye of local gangs in his Detroit neighborhood. One of the troubled kids who covets the vehicle is from a family of Hmong immigrant neighbors, whom Kowalski has long resented.”

On the poster you can see him, his Gran Torino, and his M-1 military rifle, the three things that define him as a person. Clint Eastwood himself then goes on to say of the story behind Gran Torino:

“That's the weapon he has had left over since being in the service...And the same weapon I had when I was in the Army...

...He worked on the line in the Ford plant and retired and had this one car he bought himself. It's sort of a symbol of his days with the Ford plant. The M-1 is sort of a symbol of his days in the military. … He's clinging to the memory of the war. You'll find out when you see it, some of (the memories) are not as pleasant as others. That helps make him even tougher to get along with...

...The young kid, as part of a gang initiation, tries to steal it, and the old guy gets him at the end of the M-1, which becomes kind of a big deal...The kid has to do penance because of the pride of the Asian group. They make him do penance. He has to come over, and the old guy doesn't want anything to do with him, doesn't want him anywhere around...”

He goes on to say that the Walt character takes in the boy and through his old Army contacts, gets him a job and begins to teach him about life. Eastwood promises that the film will have a light hearted side, as well as a darker, more serious aspect to it, and it will deliver twists and turns.

I'm thankful of that last bit as reading that blurb I'd have to say we've heard the story before, but then knowing that Eastwood is directing (he's also producing, starring and composing) has me looking through that without question. Eastwood is a very talented director and I love his films, from Play Misty for Me right through to today, he's rarely put a foot wrong and delivered films filled with humanity and heart.

As the interview closes he jokes that this might be his last film and that he might be “drummed out after this one”, however he goes on to be a little more serious and says that he has more films to do but not so many in front of the camera as he prefers being behind the lens.

I hope the man keeps going and going because he's one of the best directors we have and delivers some great films. Here's to Gran Torino.